Celtic Football Club is facing a fresh compensation claim amid allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of convicted paedophile Frank Cairney.
A man is claiming he was sexually assaulted by the former Celtic Boys Club coach around 1989 when he was 14 years old.
He is seeking a six-figure sum at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Digby Brown Solicitors raised the court action and is probing the historical allegations.
Richard Pitts, partner at the law firm’s Edinburgh office, said: “Each survivor of abuse should be entitled to take as long as they need to come to terms with what happened and decide what they want to do next – and after nearly 40 years our client is now ready to take his own step towards justice.
“I can therefore confirm Digby Brown is now investigating allegations of historical abuse connected with Celtic Boys Club.
“No further details can be disclosed at this time but we will continue to provide full support as the legal action progresses.”
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Celtic FC has been contacted for comment.
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Cairney was jailed for four years in 2019 after being convicted of multiple charges dating back to the 1980s.
And then in 2023, a sheriff ruled he indecently assaulted three players in the 1970s and 1980s.
Cairney, who had denied the charges, was unfit to stand trial and instead an examination of facts was held at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Tom Hughes found no grounds for acquittal, with the court hearing how the paedophile preyed on the youngsters in the Celtic Park shower room, the dressing room of the club’s Barrowfield training ground, while on a team trip to Aviemore and in his car.
Last year, the football club’s parent company Celtic Plc agreed to pay a seven-figure sum to almost 30 ex-boys’ club players.
It followed Thompsons Solicitors’ landmark group claim brought by victims abused by Cairney and James Torbett, the founder of the youth club who was also convicted of abusing young players.
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Lawyers acting for Celtic Plc had initially argued the boys’ team was an entirely “separate entity” and not formally affiliated with the Glasgow football club, but a judge ruled the case could go ahead.
Celtic later apologised for the historical sexual abuse, adding: “The club takes this abuse extremely seriously because of the historic contacts between the two organisations.”
